Public schools around the state are implementing a new emergency response system called the RAVE Panic Button. During the last legislative session, state lawmakers mandated that all schools have a system in place that could help provide faster service in the event of an active shooter or an emergency situation. School officials can call for help by pressing a smartphone app. Craighead County E911 director Jeff Pressley joined school officials and law enforcement officers this week to talk about RAVE’s impact in the schools. He says the Panic Button system will provide much better information to first responders.
“Before, on a regular 911 line, you would receive an address and a phone number. With this system, if they push their corresponding smartphone app, we will get a location and a map of exactly where that emergency is taking place in that building. At the same time we are getting that information, it will also alert school administrators as to what is going on.”
Pressley says the RAVE Panic Button is not designed to replace what schools are currently doing, by way of safety. He says it will just make emergency response happen faster. Pressley explains why.
“In the past, we have received emergency calls for service and sometimes the information for why responders were called would be passed down to a secretary. That person may not know why responders are needed, and emergency personnel would likely go into a situation blind. With this program, we will know exactly what is going on and what we need to respond to that situation.”
The different apps that school officials could choose from would be for a shooter, fire, police, and medical. Schools are currently running tests on the systems. The Nettleton School District was the first one in the state to go online with the Panic Button and they expect to have it online October 23rd.
